Business

Vinamilk CEO picks up NZ prize

Vinamilk CEO Mai Kieu Lien has been awarded the New Zealand ASEAN Prize, awarded to 40 individuals from ten countries in ASEAN and presented to Ms Lien on November 16 during the visit to Vietnam by New Zealand Prime Minister John Key.

Vinamilk and New Zealand have been partners for almost 20 years in the supply of high-quality milk and dairy products at reasonable prices, “I am honored to receive this award as recognition from New Zealand of Vinamilk’s contributions,” Ms. Lien was quoted as saying. The recognition will help to improve the relationship between Vinamilk and Vietnam with New Zealand into the future, she added.

A Heads of Understanding (HoU) signed between Global Trust Alliance, AsureQuality, and Vinamilk in November 15 will see the companies collectively drive agricultural development that can be applied in both Vietnam and New Zealand.

The process of candidate nomination for the prize was conducted by New Zealand ambassadors in Southeast Asian countries. In addition to symbolizing the friendship and diplomatic relations between countries the award also honors the contribution of individuals in bilateral cooperation.

Ms. Lien has had great success at Vinamilk, developing the company into a leading enterprise in the domestic dairy sector. She is the only Vietnamese woman to feature among Forbes’ 50 most powerful businesswomen in Asia.

She was also named the winner of the 20th Nikkei Asia Prize - Economics and Business Innovation, at an awards ceremony held in Tokyo in May.

Vinamilk aims to become one of the 50 largest dairy companies in the world by 2017 after nearly 40 years of establishment and development. It is the most valuable among 50 large brands in the country, the London-based brand valuation and strategy Brand Finance said in its “Vietnam 50 2015” report, possessing a brand value of $1.13 billion.